[TriLUG] Linux is a monopoly

[Michael Hrivnak]

I managed to get this on Slashdot.  Check it out.

http://zgp.org/pipermail/linux-elitists/2001-August/003118.html

Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: trilug-bounces at trilug.org [mailto:trilug-bounces at trilug.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Mueller
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 5:44 PM
To: trilug at trilug.org
Subject: Re: [TriLUG] Linux is a monopoly

On Wednesday 01 October 2003 16:53, Christopher L Merrill wrote:
> Michael Thompson wrote:
> >
http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_NewsRelease_09302003b
> >
> > I'm sending them my thoughts right now...
>
> Despite some of the FUD statements, I don't disagree with
>
> the article...particularly this line:
> > The Freeware Initiative will require that all IT expenditures in
2004
> > and 2005 be made on an open-source/Linux format.
>
> Just becase the software is open-source does not make it good.  The
TCO is
> an important and complex determination.  In many cases, commercial
software
> is cheaper than 'free' software, when TCO is figured in.

A few points in response:

Beware the TCO calculations.  Many assumptions and timeframes lurk
therein.  
TCO .NE. ROI.  The cost could be higher but the return on investment
might be 
higher too.  TCO and ROI say what you want them to say.

Why would the group be so unwilling to let a government body in the US
even 
_try_ the proposal before getting worked up.  Governments around the
world 
are have a go using OSS but none here.  Why?

Government is responsible for funding the development of the Internet
and its 
protocols.  This might have been called a waste of time by some in the
early 
days.  I'm sure Novell and IBM had plenty of TCO studies that showed IP
to be 
a poor choice.  Perhaps having MA go ahead with their experiment will
create 
opportunities for open source software to get better.

OSS is not necessarily free (as in beer).  I sell software that's open
and 
not free as in beer. Providing source is my way of telling clients that
if I 
get hit by a bus, your investment in my software losses less value.  It
also 
guarantees that they are not locked in to my way of doing things.  
-- 
Mike Mueller
324881 (08/20/2003)
Make clockwise circles with your right foot. 
Now use your right hand to draw the number "6" in the air.
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